At a glance
| Service | Free | After that | Account | Where your audio goes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OBRA Audio Mastering | 2 songs a day, WAV or FLAC up to 24-bit / 48 kHz | $3 / €3 / £3 per extra song, or unlimited with OBRA PRO | No | Stays in your browser |
| BandLab Mastering | Unlimited, with presets | Membership for more control | Yes | Uploaded to BandLab |
| LANDR | Previews | From about $10 per song, or a subscription | Yes | Uploaded to LANDR |
| eMastered | Preview | Subscription, about $15 a month billed yearly | Yes | Uploaded |
| DistroKid Mixea | Your first song | €89.99 a year | Yes (DistroKid) | Uploaded |
| Waves Online Mastering | Trial | $3.99 per credit, or $169.99 a year | Yes | Uploaded |
| Masterchannel | Previews | From about €15 a month billed yearly | Yes | Uploaded |
| Matchering (open source) | Free | Free; you run it yourself | No | Your own computer or server |
Prices and limits as published by each service on 18 October 2026; they change often, so check before you pay. Sources at the end of this page.
If you want free, no account
BandLab is free without a song limit, but it lives inside a BandLab account and works with presets. LANDR and most subscription services let you hear a preview and ask you to pay or subscribe to download. If you want to drop a file, listen and download a full-quality master without signing up, a browser tool is the shortest way.
OBRA Audio Mastering gives two songs a day free, with all three of its masters (Natural, OBRA and Loud), every control and a 24-bit WAV or FLAC. Nothing is uploaded: the engine runs on your device, which also means unreleased songs never leave it.
If you master a lot
Count songs per month. A subscription only pays off if you master several songs every month; for one release, a per-song price or a free tier is cheaper. Finish your mix before you master: in OBRA, downloading the same song again in another style, level or format does not use another free song, but a new bounce of the mix counts as a new song.
- Albums and EPs: look for album mastering that levels the songs against each other, not one song at a time.
- Matching a reference: some services let you point at a commercial song you love; useful when your genre has a clear sound.
- Vocal over a beat: if you are a rapper or singer with a two-track beat, a vocal + beat mix before mastering usually matters more than the master itself.
How to compare them fairly
Most comparisons are won by whichever master is louder, because louder always sounds better for a few seconds. Turn that off before you judge:
- Master the same mix in two or three services.
- Match the loudness of all the versions (and of your mix) before listening; OBRA does this for you when you compare.
- Listen to the chorus and the quietest part, on headphones and on a phone speaker.
- Check the true peak of the files you download: −1 dBTP or lower for streaming.
If none of them gets you there, the problem is often the mix, and a mixing or mastering engineer is worth the money.
Frequently asked questions
Is BandLab mastering really free?
Yes, BandLab offers free mastering inside a BandLab account, based on presets. Its paid membership adds more control.
Is there a free LANDR alternative without sign-up?
Yes. OBRA Audio Mastering masters two songs a day free without an account and lets you download a 24-bit WAV or FLAC; the engine runs in your browser, so nothing is uploaded.
Which online mastering service is best?
The one that suits your song and your workflow. Master the same mix in two or three of them, match their loudness and listen; the differences are smaller than the loudness differences most comparisons hide.
Can I release a song mastered online?
Yes. Online masters are delivered as WAV or FLAC files you can upload to DistroKid, TuneCore or any distributor. Check that the true peak is at or below −1 dBTP.